Burasaia madagascariensis (PROTA)

Plant Resources of Tropical Africa Introduction

List of species

General importance
Geographic coverage Africa
Geographic coverage World
Fruit
Spice / condiment
Dye / tannin
Medicinal
Food security

Burasaia madagascariensis DC.

Protologue: Syst. nat. 1: 514 (1818).

Family: Menispermaceae

Origin and geographic distribution

Burasaia madagascariensis occurs throughout eastern Madagascar, from Antsiranana in the north to Toliara in the south. It also occurs on the Comoros, Réunion and Mauritius.

Uses

A tea prepared from the roots of Burasaia madagascariensis is one of the oldest medicines against malaria in Madagascar, and is also used to treat enlarged spleen and hepatic affections. A decoction of the root bark is taken as a cholagogue against nausea and retching. A leaf decoction is drunk against fever and gonorrhoea.

The bitter leaves and stem bark are added to alcoholic beverages drunk during circumcision ceremonies. The fruit is edible. The root yields a bright yellow dye.

Properties

From an alcohol extract of the stem N-acetylnornuciferine was isolated as were the clerodane-type diterpenes epicordatine and penianthic acid-methylester. From an alcohol extract of the wood the quaternary protoberberine alkaloids palmatine (burasaine), columbamine and jatrorrhizine were isolated. Palmatine was isolated also from the root. The root decoction has a slow-action antimalarial effect in humans. It causes a contraction of the spleen and is believed to force the Plasmodium parasites to stay in the bloodstream, where they can be controlled by smaller doses of chloroquine or quinine. Palmatine has mild DNA-binding properties. At high concentrations it has a very modest effect on the progression of the cell cycle, but does not promote DNA cleavage by topoisomerases.

The sap from the wood is irritant to the skin.

Description

Dioecious shrub up to 4 m tall. Leaves alternate, 3-foliolate but usually simple at stem apex; petiole 7–14 cm long, swollen and bent at the apex; petiolule up to 1 cm long; leaflets elliptical, up to 10 cm long, base cuneate, apex acuminate, pinnately veined. Inflorescence a panicle in the leaf axils or on older stems. Flowers unisexual, small, pedicellate; sepals usually 9 in 3 whorls, pale green, fleshy; male flowers c. 4 mm long, stamens 6, filaments enlarged, triangular below, fleshy; female flowers with rudimentary stamens, ovary superior, composed of 3 free carpels c. 2.5 mm long. Fruit generally a single, ovoid, fleshy drupe c. 2 cm long, 1-seeded, pale yellow to pink or orange; stone hard and brittle. Seedling with epigeal germination; cotyledons leafy and spreading.

Other botanical information

Burasaia comprises about 5 species, all endemic to Madagascar and neighbouring islands. Revision of the genus may lead to the distinction of additional species. Burasaia madagascariensis is a variable species and easily confused with the other Burasaia spp. Burasaia congesta Decne. occurs in eastern Madagascar up to 1000 m altitude, Burasaia gracilis Decne. is endemic to northern Madagascar up to 1200 m altitude, and Burasaia australis Scott-Elliot is endemic to south-eastern Madagascar up to 700 m altitude. Burasaia nigrescens Capuron is also endemic to Madagascar. The roots of these Burasaia spp. are used for similar medicinal purposes as those of Burasaia madagascariensis. They yield a bright yellow dye. From the stem bark the protoberberine quaternary alkaloids palmatine, jatrorrhizine and columbamine were isolated, as well as clerodane diterpenes.

Ecology

Burasaia madagascariensis is an adaptable species occurring in humid, intermediate and dry forest, from coastal sand dunes up to 1600 m altitude.

Genetic resources

Burasaia madagascariensis is common and widespread. There are no indications that it is in danger of genetic erosion.

Prospects

The antimalarial properties of Burasaia species were studied and active compounds have been identified. Subsequently, research was discontinued probably because alternative sources of these compounds were available. However, the interaction of the Burasaia alkaloids and quinine or chloroquine deserves further study.

Major references

• Gurib-Fakim, A. & Brendler, T., 2004. Medicinal and aromatic plants of Indian Ocean Islands: Madagascar, Comoros, Seychelles and Mascarenes. Medpharm, Stuttgart, Germany. 568 pp.

• Kluza, J., Baldeyrou, B., Colson, P., Rasoanaivo, P., Frappier, F. & Bailly, C., 2003. Cytotoxicity and DNA binding properties of the alkaloid burasaine from Burasaia madagascariensis. European Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences 20: 383–391.

• Mambu, L., Ramanandraibe, V., Martin, M.T., Blond, A., Grellier, P. & Frappier, F., 2002. Constituents of Burasaia madagascariensis: a new clerodane-type diterpene. Planta Medica 68(4): 377–379.

• Neuwinger, H.D., 2000. African traditional medicine: a dictionary of plant use and applications. Medpharm Scientific, Stuttgart, Germany. 589 pp.

• Rasoanaivo, P., Ratsimamanga-Urverg, S., Rakoto-Ratsimamanga, A. & Raharisololalao, A., 1991. Chemical constituents of three Burasaia spp. (Menispermaceae) from Madagascar. Biochemical Systematics and Ecology 19(5): 433–437.

Other references

• Boiteau, P., Boiteau, M. & Allorge-Boiteau, L., 1999. Dictionnaire des noms malgaches de végétaux. 4 Volumes + Index des noms scientifiques avec leurs équivalents malgaches. Editions Alzieu, Grenoble, France.

• de Wet, H., 2005. An ethnobotanical and chemotaxonomic study of South African Menispermaceae. PhD thesis, Faculty of Science, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa. 450 pp.

• Grycova, L., Dostal, J. & Marek, R., 2007. Quaternary protoberberine alkaloids. Phytochemistry 68: 150–175.

• Ortiz, R., Kellogg, E.A. & Van Der Werff, H., 2007. Molecular phylogeny of the moonseed family (Menispermaceae): implications for morphological diversification. American Journal of Botany 94(8): 1425–1438.

• Rasoanaivo, P., Ratsimamanga-Urverg, S., Ramanitrahasimbolo, D., Rafatro, H. & Rakoto-Ratsimamanga, A., 1999. Criblage d’extraits de plantes de Madagascar pour recherche d’activité antipaludique et d’effet potentialisateur de la chloroquine. Journal of Ethnopharmacology 64: 117–126.

• Resplandy, A., 1958. Sur les alcaloïdes de Burasaia madagascariensis DC. Comptes Rendus hebdomaires des Séances de l’Académie des Sciences 247: 2428–2431.

• Schatz, G.E., 2001. Generic tree flora of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, Richmond, United Kingdom. 477 pp.

Author(s)

• L.P.A. Oyen, PROTA Network Office Europe, Wageningen University, P.O. Box 341, 6700 AH Wageningen, Netherlands

Correct citation of this article

Oyen, L.P.A., 2008. Burasaia madagascariensis DC. In: Schmelzer, G.H. & Gurib-Fakim, A. (Editors). PROTA (Plant Resources of Tropical Africa / Ressources végétales de l’Afrique tropicale), Wageningen, Netherlands. Accessed 6 March 2025.

• See the Prota4U database.